Last days to sign up for free eye exams

Tuesday is the last day to sign up for a free eye examination by a board-certified animal ophthalmologist if your animal is a service or therapy animal.

Eligible animals are those that are registered with a service or therapy group. Ophthalmologists conducting he exams are eye specialists certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology.

The program is sponsored by veterinary ophthalmologists and Merial, which makes medications for animals.

Guide dogs, handicapped assistance animals, therapy animals and search and rescue dogs registered through a formal program or currently enrolled in a formal training program are eligible for the exams, during which doctors look for problems including redness, squinting, cloudy corneas, retinal disease, early cataracts and other abnormalities that can affect an animal's ability to work.

Exams will be conducted in May. To be eligible, handlers or owners must sign up during April. Signups can be done online today and Tuesday at advoeyeexam.org. During the signup, you will receive a registration number and a list of participating ophthalmologists in your area whom you can contact to schedule an exam.